George q



(No Model.)

G. SEAMAN. CONSTRUCTION OF TROLLEY LINES.

No. 508,771. Patented Nov. 14, 1893.

WITNESSES:

A TTOHNEYS.

me NATIONAL LITMOGRAFHINE COMPANY:

clear, and exact description. My invention relates to an improvement inV UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.-

GEORGE Q. SEAMAN, OF BROOKLYN, ,NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, ALEXANDERWILSON, AND WILLIAM J ONES, OFSAME PLACE CONSTRUCTION OF T'ROLLEY-LINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,771, dated November14, 1893.

Application filed July 22, 1893.

ful Improvement in the Construction of Trol- 1 ley-Lines, of which thefollowingis a full,

the construction of trolley lines, and it has for its object 'to providea means whereby in the event a trolley wire should become broken,

the broken section will immediately become insulated and cut out of thecircuit,thus rendering the wire a dead wire and preventing it from doingharm.

A further object of the invention is to accomplish thecutting out of abroken trolley wire without disturbing the circuit at either side of thesection in which the break occurs.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out inthe claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures and letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in both the views.

Figure l is a vertical section through the supports of a trolley line,the posts carrying the supports being in side elevation; and

- Fig. 2 is a plan view of the supports, one of them being broken awayand in section practically on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, disclosing theconnecting arm.

. The posts A, adapted to support the wires may be of any approvedconstruction, or any equivalent of apost may be employed. Each set ofposts or equivalent supports is connected by a plate'lO, the plateextending transversely over the track, and at or nearthe center of eachplate studs 11, are projected downward, the studs being arranged atpredetermined intervals, and one is located usually near each side edgeof the plate. The studs are provided with transversely aligning openingsor slots 12, which are preferably produced in the lower portionsthereof; and in the slot or recess of each stud of each post or supportA, a block '13, or its equivalent thereof, is pivoted, which block is aconduc- Serial No. 481.186- (No model.)

tor of electricity; and the two blocks 13 of each post are placed inconnection or in circuit by means of a switch bar 14, the said barhaving guided and sliding movement in the slots of the studs 11, asshown in the drawings, the ends of the switch bar or circuit closer l4resting upon a pair of blocks 13.

Trolley wires 15, are made to extend from a block on one post or supportto an opposing block upon the next post or support, and in this manner astretch of wireis obtained over the track to be engaged by the trolley,the only break being between the'pivotal blocks 13 of a pair, and thisbreak may be bridged by any approved form of coupling. As the blocks 13,are pivoted they are free to turn, and upon one side edge each block 13,is provided with an insulated face 16. The feed wire 17, is run in theusual manner, and each switch bar 14. is in com munication with saidfeed wire. y

In the operation of the improvement, while the trolley wires arestretched the blocks to which the wires are attached arein electricalcontact with the switch bars 14., and the circuit will be unbrokenthroughout the line;

but in the event that the trolley wire in one I from tension will berocked upon their pivots, owing to the influence of the dropping wire,and when so rocked the insulated faces of the blocks carrying the brokenwire will be brought in engagement with the switch bars 14, with whichthey engage,-and the circuit will be broken in the section in which thebreak occurs, and the broken wires will be rendered dead and harmless,while the sections at either side will not be in the least affected,since the current will pass uninterruptedly from the feed wire to theswitches over the wires 18 connecting the feed wire and switches. Thus,should any break occur, the cars need only be moved the length of a section, that section in which the break takes place,that is, the distancebetween two posts. The blocks 13, are so. weighted that when a breakoccurs in the wire attached to them they will turn in such manner as tobring their insulated faces uppermost, and w ll remain in that positionuntil a new wire has been stretched upon them.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent I 1 In a trolley or like line, a trolley wire,weighted supports connected therewith, and provided with contact andinsulated faces, a feed wire,'and a switch bar connecting the feed wireand trolley wire supports, substantially as shown and described.

2. In the construction of trolley and like lines, a trolley wire,rocking supports connected with the trolley wire and provided withcontact and insulated faces, the tension of the trolley wire maintainingthe contact faces in contact position, a switch bar or circuit closernormally in engagement with the contact faces of the trolley wiresupports, a

feed wire, and a connection between the feed wire and the switch bars orcircuit closers, substantially as shown and described, whereby when thetrolley wire breaks, its supports will turn upon their pivots andpresent their insulated faces to the switch or circuit closer,

as and for the purpose specified.

3. In the construction of trolley and like lines, rocking or pivotedsupports arranged in pairs, a trolley wire connected at its ends to apair of supports, the said supports being provided with contact andinsulated faces, circuit closers or switch bars having shiftingengagement with the trolley wire supports, and a connection between theswitch bars and the feed wire of the line, substantially as shown anddescribed.

4. In the construction of trolley and like lines, the combination, witha series of supports, of supporting devices having rocking and pivotalconnection with the supports, said supporting devices being providedwith contact and insulated faces, a switch bar or circuit closer heldnormally in electrical contact with the supporting devices, located uponeachsupport, the said switch bars having independent connection with thefeed wire of the line, and trolley wires connected with opposingsupporting devices, forming a series of sections, the trolley wire ofeach section while under tension normally inaintainingits supportingdevices in engagement with the switch bars, substantially as shown anddescribed, whereby when a trolley wire breaks, its supporting deviceswill turn and present their insulated faces to the switches, as and forthe purpose set forth.

GEORGE Q. SEAMAN.

Witnesses:

J. FRED AGKER, C. SEDGWIOK.

